NOSTALGIA: Eastbourne Rowing Club appeals to past members

The club has outgrown its current premises on the seafront and a Friends of Eastbourne Rowing Club group has now been formed to increase its membership and raise money to improve the current boathouse.

A spokesperson at the club said ERC has had a long and close relationship with the town.

She said, “This is something the club cherishes and to help us maintain this we are trying to contact past members going back to the 1950s and also relatives of any past members.

“Eastbourne Rowing Club has had many successes over the years since its inception. There was the 1890s when the club was virtually unbeatable on the water. This was then interrupted by the First World War which created problems for all walks of life.

“The club was then revived by a group of dedicated people in 1933 when, supported by local philanthropist Thomas Arno, the Eastbourne Regatta was held on Wednesday July 26 1933 after many years of absence. This was a great success.

“More success followed in the latter part of the 1930s which was then interrupted, again, this time by the Second World War. The year 1946 saw the second revival of the club due to members returning from active service. They went on to form very successful crews in the late 1940s and 1950s.

“Successes have followed since then with many crews gaining wins in various events up until the present day. Sadly, though, the club has outgrown its current premises and so we have formed a Friends of Eastbourne Rowing Club group which has a remit to further the aims of the club by increasing its membership and to raise money to improve its current boathouse.

“Therefore, past members and their relatives, can you help us? We would like you to contact us, to engage with us and to assist us with our aim of taking Eastbourne Rowing Club forward for its future, success and longevity.

“Please search through your records/archives for any photographs or documents that you may have. Further, we are looking for donations in order that we may expand the club’s premises and to buy new equipment

“We have already been contacted by some relatives of past members from the 1930s and 1940s and some past members who have kindly donated some photographs, but we are still looking for more.

You can contact us by email on [email protected] and support us by becoming a friend of Eastbourne Rowing Club.

The initiative is being supported by the ERC committee and driven by longstanding members Dave Dufrane, Ivor Lloyd and Steve Walshaw.

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